I did a quick search on removing rail joins from e-z track. I attempted this using needle nose pliers and only succeeded in pulling out the entire rail. I need to replace the joins on the e-z track with code 83 - 100 joins for my swing bridge.

I remove them all the time as I solder feeder wires in. I use a pair of cutting pliers and bite as far in as I can. While holding the rail down so I don't break the spikes I wiggle it back and forth while gently pulling backwards on the joiner. They are crimped to the rail. A couple were tougher so I took a small pick and loosen the edges.

To remove rail joiners from ez track I use a pair of close cut nippers. I slide the flat side of the nippers right up to the the rail, I then sqeeze down enough to hold with out cutting through, I then rotate the cutter so the top back of the blade presses aginst the railhead this causes the joiner to break free and come off without pulling the track out of the ties, it does destroy the joiner but does not harm the rail.

It sounds like Bachmann changed the joiner attachment method from the originals at some point. When did that happen?

I have a bunch of the original EZ-Track, and the joiners have been easy to remove since the first day I got it. No different than other brands of standard sectional track.

I've never had any problem switching out with plastic isolation joiners or terminal joiners. If they got too loose, and fell into the black hole loose rail joiners seem to disappear into, I just changed them out with Peco Code 100 joiners. The Peco's are a bit tight out of the package, but work well.

I can't understand why Bachmann would want to make it harder to do such a basic thing as switch rail joiners?

To remove rail joiners from ez track I use a pair of close cut nippers. I slide the flat side of the nippers right up to the the rail, I then sqeeze down enough to hold with out cutting through, I then rotate the cutter so the top back of the blade presses aginst the railhead this causes the joiner to break free and come off without pulling the track out of the ties, it does destroy the joiner but does not harm the rail.

NM-Jeff

I tried you method and I only loosen the rail from the ties.

I no longer try to remove the original clip.

When I need to gap a rail, I use my dremel.

I really wish Bachmann did not attach the joiners in such a way that people like me mangle the track. The only way I can use Bachmann track that has lost a clip is to shorten the piece so that I may attach a new clip.

Welcome to one of the many joys of model railroading.Bachmann would then have to be selling packs of pins. The company in China would have to strart shipping packs of pins. More manufacturing cost.I remember that from my first days of Lionel trains when you could remove and lose the pins.Every modeler should have a Dremel with diamond cutoff wheel.

Welcome to one of the many joys of model railroading.Bachmann would then have to be selling packs of pins. The company in China would have to strart shipping packs of pins. More manufacturing cost.I remember that from my first days of Lionel trains when you could remove and lose the pins.Every modeler should have a Dremel with diamond cutoff wheel.

Rich

Code 100 rail joiners are already available from Bachmann, item number 44499. They are also readily available from multiple other sources, e.g., Peco, Atlas, Shinohara, and Model Power.

Creating gaps is not the only reason for removing rail joiners. Trying to disguise the standard terminal track power connection can be a pain. And on larger curves where an added power connection is needed, using the standard terminal tracks isn't possible. In which case, many prefer to use 'terminal joiners' for power connections. They are easy to hide, and can be used with any radius curve.

So I can't understand why Bachmann would make it difficult to remove the rail joiners. It completely flys in the face of basic layout building.